How to Winterize the Honda PWC

Winterizing a Honda PWC will help extend the life of the jet ski. Much like a car, the Honda PWC requires some basic maintenance. Any temperature below 20 degrees Fahrenheit necessitates some type of winterizing of any vehicle with a motorized engine. Part of preparing a Honda PWC for winter is essentially preparing for the next summer ahead of time. For example, the approach of winter is the perfect time for a tune up. Checking wires, starters and gas in advance makes for a better summer. When other riders are fighting for a spring appointment at the dealership, you will be on the water enjoying your Honda PWC.

Things You'll Need

  • Trailer
  • Car soap
  • Clean clothes
  • Car wax
  • Gasoline
  • Fogging oil
  • Blocks
  • Steel wool
  • Cover
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drain the engine of the Honda PWC in the off-season. Don't wait to drain the water off the engine; do it right after your last ride. The best place to drain the engine is on its trailer. That's because on the trailer, the vehicle tilts with the stem lower than the bow.

    • 2

      Start the engine a few times and let it run for approximately 30 seconds each time. Do not let the engine overheat. Starting the engine will drain any excess water.

    • 3

      Rub the Honda PWC down with a clean cloth. Wipe off any sand and wash the PWC with car soap. Scrub to remove any salt build up or algae. Cleaning off algae is easier now than in the spring, when it has hardened all winter.

    • 4

      Rub wax into the exterior of the watercraft. A light coat will do on any metal parts on the Honda PWC. Wax on metal helps prevent rusting.

    • 5

      Fill the PWC with gasoline to stop condensation from forming in the gas tank during storage. Leave room to add gas stabilizer. This will prevent the gas from getting gummy during the winter. Gummy gas clogs the carburetor.

    • 6

      Switch the Honda PWC engine on a few times, letting it run no more than 30 seconds each time. Starting the engine allows the gas stabilizer to work through the engine and carburetor. If there is excess water in the engine, the gas stabilizer will get rid of it.

    • 7

      Check the oil in the PWC and change it. Spray fogging oil into the carburetor and cylinders by lifting out the air cleaners.

    • 8

      Turn the ignition and start the engine again. Spray oil into the throat of the carburetor while idling. Shut the engine off and remove the spark plugs. Spray fogging oil into each spark plug cylinder.

    • 9

      Throw a clean cloth over the spark plug cylinders and push the start button. The engine won't start, but the fogging oil will coat the cylinders. Replace old spark plugs with new ones.

    • 10

      Prepare the battery for removal by disconnecting the cables and wiping away any grime. Disconnect the negative cable and then the positive cable from each terminal.

    • 11

      Set the battery in a warm area such as a shed or garage. A battery can release toxic fumes, so do not store inside a house. You can attach the battery to a trickle charger as long as you remember to check the water level of the battery throughout the winter.

    • 12

      Raise the PWC off the ground when storing for the winter. The craft needs leveling and should sit off the frozen ground. If you store the Honda PWC on a trailer, block the tires and jack the trailer off the ground to prevent the tires from flattening.

    • 13

      Push steel wool into the exhaust pipe so that animals and insects do not nest in the orifice.

    • 14

      Complete winterization of the PWC by covering the watercraft to keep it clean and protected from scratches.